Measuring apparatus



Nov. 22, 1932. A. D. MOSBY mmsunme APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1931 Nov. 22, 1932. A. D. MOSBY MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 rnlfentz)? Nov. 22, 1932. A. D. MOSBY MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1951 I s Sheets-Sheet 5 lllll lllii Imfen Q fly/fed,

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES.

PATENT oF Ica Armani). MOSBY, or wArEnLoo. IowA, AssiGNoR TO, consrnucriou'imaomunny HCOMZANY, or WATERLOO, IOWA, A coaronnrrou or owA' MEASURING .APPARA'IUS Application filed August 3, 1931. Serial No.554344. 1 Y

This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing" predetermined amounts of liquid in operations wherein. the amount of liquid dispensed should be controlled to a high degree of exactitude.

In many modern industrial operations it has becomenot only desirable but impera-. tive to provide'highlyaccurate measure ments of liquid. In construction engineer.- ing, for example, strict regulations regarding the exact amount of liquid used in mixing operations are being rigidly enforced. The

problems involved in meeting these require" ments are augmented by the varied conditions under which such operations are performed. In concrete mlxlng, for example,

the problem is not merely that of devising a measuring apparatus which will be accurate under ordinary circumstances, but one, which will be unaffected by severe and continual vibration, by exposure to extreme heat or cold, by water pressures varying from practically nothing to twohundred pounds or more, by muddy or gritty water and, inshort, all of the rigors to which construction machinery may be subjected. At the same time,

however, the apparatus to meet these require. ments must possess complete and absolute accuracy.

Convenience of operation is also a highly desirable feature in an apparatus of this na-ca V the flow of liquid lnto and out ofthe tank so ture, particularly when theapparatus is employed on heavy construction machinery;

Under such circumstances the operator is often restricted by the externally moving operation. Furthermore, the movements of the operator within this limited area are:

motions of the machine also tendto throw the operating mechanismout of adjustment.

adjustment, therefore, the operating means 1 should be both readily accessible and in full obviated and inated.

parts of such machine to a limited area of 3' tank with unitary means of control.

view of the operator. To provide controlling mechanism on the top of ,the'a paratus fOr example, would, under many circumstances involve not only a waste, of time but also "danger to both the operator and the inspectors.- Werethe measuring apparatus used on a machme such as. a concrete m xer, it

might even be necessary to completely cease operations while making adjustments. Therefore, when the measuring apparatus is to be employed under these conditionsit is imperative that the operating means be so positioned, preferably on the side of a vs sel, that the operator may quickly andconveniently make adjustments and also that the operating means will be in full 'viewat I all times.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved measuring tank or re-.

ceptacle for water or other liquids comprising anovel arrangement of valves and'controlling mechanism whereby the liquid Wltlib drawn therefrom may be automatically and accurately gauged to any desired volume} A further object is to provide means preferably on the side of the tank foreasily, and

quickly, setting the apparatusto deliver any desired volumefof; liquid, for example, in

pints or pounds or fractions thereof.

A- further object is to provide improved" means for rapidly and efficiently cont-rolling that all danger. of'leaking and by-passing is A furtherobject is to'provide a measuring 5 tank involving both simplicity and suf ficient: sturdiness of construction, to :withany tendency to dribble elim-f' stand the strain of operationion aconcrete m1xer,-for example, Without breakageor impairment of efliciency.

A further object is to providea measuring tank of suchconstruction that the accuracy will not be affected when the tank is tilted or tipped by virtue ofoperation on uneven levels of ground.

A further object isto provide a measuring I tank which will efliciently operate under.

varied conditions of Water pressure and which will not be adversely affected by mud dy or gritty Water. I i

A further object is to provide a new and improved construction of valve of the dual phase typefor controlling the flow-of liquid into andfoutbf the'measuring tank;

A further object is to provide a new and improved air valve which will not prematurely "seat" itself under f conditions of" high velocity of air discharging-from-the tank oc-' casioned by high pressure of the liquidrentering the tank but which will, however, seat itself under conditions of extremely lowwaterpressure or even no pressure Whatever.

The invention' is iihistrated inca) preferred embodiment "111 11.16 accompanying drawings wherein:

a perspective view of the aPPa=- Fig; "3 iisa 've'rtical sectional view of th'e air--' Fig. l' 'i's a bottorrr vi'ew of the air valve? away" andparts shown in central vertical section;

Fig. (i is -a h orizontal section" with parts ing wheel and associated parts;

disehar eofwater'from the-measuringtank;

this 'yalve bbdy being sh ovvn thisfifigure 1 the position-which it occupiesduring the valvefbody ina'clbsed positioni' 4 Fi gi' l 'o. is a vertical sectional view "of the? valve bodyin thepo'sition which itoccupies during thewithdrawal of liquid "fioin" the tank.

Bforef-entering into a deta'iledf description offthe apparatus and to"fa'cilitate"an" understandingthereof; thegeneral operation off'thie"invention' nayf be briefly described 'as follows, w'ithreference' to Fig; 1.

inlet supply pipe A, through a valve mec vesselortank DI When' theitan-kD is C0111- A pletely 'iilled with liquid at regulatin'ghand wheel E) is turned 'unti'l pointer l desig nates on "dial G then-mount of 1 liquid to be withdrawn" from the-rank D? As will be" hereinafter described, the regulating hand b wl-ljeel E operates a device within the tank which'fdet'ernlin'es tlfelevfelto which the liqui'dj in the tank canfsubside; p

The desired "volume ofliqu'i'd' thus ind-i cated is discharged trom the tank D by open atiirga 'handjlever' H which is on valve neclr F 9' is" a"verti ca'l-"sectional-view ofthe"- The, liquid tobe measured passes fronran Al ahnism B, thence through aiduct G and into 1 ahereinafter described, and an inlet and out 1et duct 4-securedtothe bottom portion of the tank 1. The inlet and outlet duct 4: is preferably iCZLSl'S with: .or weldedrto =.th'e bottom central bottom portionithereofi Proj ectin'g' upwardly i into the gtanki n w the openlngiitlrereiir is 'a station ary"siphon pipe-t5 which is openi at its upper end and is 'headiof-"tanki"andleads to' an openingfini the preferablyiiWeldedtoathe bott om: head ofii the r tank 'to 1 :tornr a continuation of inlet and fout mo ma Stationary sipho wpipe g5 fis -provided with four rojeCting -ribs G' which serve as guides for-an adjustable sip'li'on pipe '7 whiehis slid ably arranged l thereoni The top of adjust able pip e 7 is closed and the fbotto'mis openg thus rovidinga duct sieadin from the teq of istation'ary pipie '5 downward betweerr the walls of stationary-pipe 5 into the interior ofthe tank 1' All liquid entering or leaving 'Th'eribs or guides'6 are-extended abovethetop *off th'e stationary siphon pipe 5 andsupa port a deflecto'rplate 9 which is spaced above theupper edge of stationary siphon pipe 5 and'is ot'greater' -d iarrreter than the stationary Toprovidef-r' the' discharged air from the tank-'1 as the liquid enters'through duct 8, and to stop the flow of water into the-tank 1 when it iscompletely"filledfis' an air valve 10',"hereina-ttterdescribed, onthe top-of tank 1; adapted to-close' when the-tank is completelyfil-lehi 1' i 1.

When the tank iscompletely*fiildhnd itisdesiredto'withdrawliqliid fronithetank; '7

the valvehandl eilf on dii'al' phase*- valve ineclranisrrr iFi 1)};Qhe'reinafter describedi,

i's' operafte'd to bring inlet and outlet diic't into communication with a dischargepi-pe 12 As" the liq u-id" flows? out of the I stationary siplron pipe 5Q'tlre-liq'uicl isf drawn upward trfon'i-tankil through duct Sby sip-ironic ac-; tion'. This flow of liquid out of the tank will continue until th ewater' level Within the tank recedes to the lower end of duct- 8,- at

' Itwillnowbenoted tl fat'theievel townieh theliquid in thefta'nlr can recede is dependent upon the location of the lower end of'duct "85- By raising and lowering the" adjustable siphon pipe 7, the lower end of duct 8 is varied accordingly; r a

To provide for an external adjustment for varying the position of lower'end of duct 8, adjustable siphon pipe, 7 is supported on a lever 13 provided with a yoke 14, the ends of which are bifurcated for slidable engagement with stud 15 on adjustable siphon pipe 5. The opposite end of lever 13 extends through a slot 16 (Fig. 7) in tank 1 and into a casing 17 on the side of tank l where it is threaded into a rock shaft 18 and secured thereto by lock nut 19. Shaft 18 is journaled in casing 17 and one end thereof is reduced diameter and formed with a conical bearing 20 which fits acor'respondirigly formed bearing surface {on a gland 21 set into the end of the casing. i v

On a portion of shaft 18Ywhich projects through the casing 17 is a collar 22 adj ustably secured thereto by a set screw 23 and provided with cam stud 24 having arounded en-d 25 to fit into an eccentric cam groove 26 formed in the back portion of a regulating wheel'27. Byturning the regulating wheel 27, lever 13 is rocked to adjust the vertical position of the adjustable siphon pipe 7, which accordingly varies the position of the lower end'of duct 8. The cam groove or grooved spiral 26 as illustrated (Fig. 7) is so constructed that the maximum adjustment is accomplished in one revolution of the regulating wheel 27. While the .pitch of this groove may be varied to al low either more or less than one revolution of theeregulating wheel, it has been found that in the illustrated form the intermediate points of adjustment may be accurately and clearly calibrated and the adjustments made.

with great rapidity.

The casing 17 is secured to the side wall of,

tank 1 by bolts 28 or in any other suitable manner. Rockshaft 18 is held in water seala ing engagement with casing 17 by a coiled spring 29 arranged in a spring pocket 30 in the end of the rock shaft and against the end wall 31 of casing 17. V g

Depending from casing 17 is a socket pipe with a stud shaft 33 secured thereto by set screw 34 onwhich the regulating wheel 27 is rotatably supported and held in position thereon by a pointer 35 i which extends through an opening at the outlet end of stud shaft-'33 and is rigidly secured thereto. The

"outside face of regulating wheel 27;is provided with a .dial 36 calibrated to pints, pounds or'whatever system of measurement is desired."

The lower-end of pointer 35 is provided; with a thumb screw 37.

extends through the lower portion of pointer 35 and is adapted to bring the hand wheel 27 and pointer 35 into locked engagement, thus preventingany movementof the regulat ngwheel 27 caused by accidental means orby- Thumb screw 37 i the vibration of the inechanism upon which this invention may be used.

To provide for raising the adjustable si phon pipe "(to a high position for the measurement of a relativelysmall amount of li- -quid, the tank l is pi'ovided on its to head directly over the movable siphon-pipe with a bonnet 38 secured to the tank by stud bolts" 39and which is adapted to receive the upper end of the adjustable siphon pipe 7 when the same is in an elevated position, as i'ndi-I; l

cated by dottedlines in Fig. 5. 3

A gauge glass 40 conimuniicating with the": top and bottom headsrespectively of tank 1" serves to indicate the level of the liquid in,the :;g

of check valve, but a valve of this type is not recommended. In the practical use of this invention, on a concrete mixer, for example,

the tank is subjected to various degrees of water pressure ranging from practically nothing up to 150 or'200 pounds pressure' This fluctation'may even exist from hourto hour on the same job. llnder such variations,

the ordinary commercial type of check valve is ob ectionable for two reasons. Flrst, under low or no water presure, the movablepart of such valve may not seat itself when the water level in the tank reaches it, as this part is too heavy to be floated upwithby the. water. Usuallya minimum pressure of about 10 pounds is necessary to cause the check its valve to seat itself. Second, when high pressure inlet water is'being used, particularly with a large inlet pipe, the flow of water is so-great and fills the tank so rapidly that the air escapingfrom the tank moves at an extremely high velocity. The velocity of air through the air valve increases as the volume v of water in thetank increases until the velocity of the air rushing through the valve is so great that it lifts the valve,-causing it to seat itself prematurely. This, of course, traps a. considerable amount of air in the tanlgpreventing it from completely filling with water. I pletely filled before each operation, premature seating. of the valve would destroy ac-"- curacy of the apparatus.

'The preferred form of air valve 6, which obviates the above difficulties, is shown in Fig. 3. Valve casing 41 is secured by an air Inasmuch as the tank must be comtight connection to an aperture through the I top of bonnet 38. This casing consists ofa valve chamber 42 and a discharge chamber 43 which is separated by a'valve port 44. The

discharge chamber 43 is provided with'ports which communicate with the outside .at-j mosphere. Valve port-44 is provided at its lower or valve chamber sidewith a valve seat 46.

, Within valve'chamber' 42 is positioned a valve 47 comprising? ag flOali 48,; a closing member 49 on the top-thereof: adaptedvto enkgage with valve seat' 46," Zl-IlClfIlbrO'I ing guides 50- which project'fi 'oin the top;.o close ing'; member 49 into valve port 44 andslid 'ablvbear' against the sides-thereof;

' 49011 theupper'end. Float' 48ismaintained I float lsrand plate in truew'ertioalalignment by fourproj ecting ribe--51 which are-secured to walls of valve position asshoW-nin F ig. 3,'the'lo- .ver edge of- :float 48 rests-on -athin-metal plate 52 of slightly largerdiameter than thatfotfioat 48; and which isprovided with ears'fil-which are secured tothe bottom of rib 51.-- T;he"lovver.-. edge-of float 48 isvprovideid with openingso l to prevent any seali-ngfiengagemont between The valve mechanism '3 for the control ofliquid entering; or leaving the tank: is -interposed between the supply pipe Q', the discha-rge-pipe 12 andinl'et andoutletduot 4.- The casing: "of *this valve mechanism is pref- ,erably in-tWo"parts,-55 311(1561- Part 56 (usuallv thelower) is interposed directlys betweeni inlet and outlet duct*land' dischargev pipe 12; Parts 55'and- 53are'held in WERE? sealingengagement bvstud bolts 571 An opening; in part- 56 'is divided into 'ports- '58- and 59:b v partition" or iitting fiO. The ports 58 and '59 are alternately opened or closed" by slide valve 6 1, which i s' slidably'arrange'd' onvalve 'seat'62i Valveolis preferahlv a" chilledor ground surface to insure a sli ding-f surface which will remain tight, Withstand the-abrasive actionof muddy or gritty waten' and, at the same time operatefreelyi Slide valve 61' is helmet' shaped and pro vides a chamber 63 of sufficient size tosimultaneously cover ports 58and59; The base of slide valve 6l is extended on theisidelnear est port 59, 'to'f0rm='a flange 'M'lo-f sufiicient Widthtoco'ver port"5 9. 5 7

On the top portion ofslide' valvefil is; a series of rack teeth; 65! Apinionfiti adapted to'inesh' With rack teeth 65 is positioned on shaft 66 Whichprojects through stuffingbox 67 Fig. 1) and is journaled in the upper pertion of valve mechanism'8. The pin-ion is r0- tated by a'hand operating lever 11 seouredtothelprojecting'end of'shatt'fiti L r I WVhile' any' two Way valve may be used in Y place ofthe valve above described, the above.

construction is preferrecl in view of the fact that it Will not permit by-passinggot the liquid-at theinoment ,ot opening or closingthe valve. Inmany valvesof the'ty-pe vvhichsimultaneously open one port and close -the "other, there-is a brief period-When both inlet tdestroying thei accuracy of the-measuring glee.

chamber 42; When the valve 47 is-in an openandgdi scharge openings-will bemomentarily openz'at -the sameitime, letting the inlet, wateij by-pass through the valve into the-measured? Water being;dischargedframe-thetanlc thus vice. Itwill'be noted-that the -preferred valve body above described, is; so rconstr-uoiled that -in orderi-to thr ow the valve-seat between the filling position-(Fig.8) and.the discharge-1 portion Fig 10) it isfirstnecessaryto, g 71 into'the closedlposition Qi -ig'. 9) Thisnas will 'readiljr, 'be seen obviatesall sda'ngeiy org ar in -Jr- Theopemtio'ni of the "apparatus" Torfill thetanklil, the hand operating leveig 11" is swung-toward the tankinto positiona shown; ing Fig QS. j This-opens port 59 ande allows liquidfrom supply pipe 2 to through-duct ,4,- up-Ward -through stationary siphonpipefland into thie tankzlw.

Asrthe tank renewal; Water; the:arlr efsaw capes through eopeni-ngzin valve 10. When" the Waterlevel in the .tank:-10 rises into the valve chamberAQ-Of valve 1O :aponsiderable amount ot-air is" trappedr -inrfl oat -48w-v They Weight ofthe water'thus displaced graduall tr equalizes the-Weight of thevalve-l'i; causing, it to floatand. rise into valve seat 46, clos ingot? theescapeof any:Waterbound throughl the valve. As novmore liquid-can; enter-the" tank. 1,: the hand operated lever ll. Guava mechanism- 3: iszleft Vin" the filling vposition- (F ig..8 a 7 Before. the ,liqui'drlis Withdrawn 1 tank, the operator turns the regula-ting wheel; I 27 until the pointer 35 indicatesqonadial 36?" the-amount ofiliquid. desired; In: operations wherethesam-eamount of v atenis required? for successive batches it'is, of course, unneca essary, to i adjust the regulating- Wheel after each' 'batch, andfconsequently the: operatnp may set the, thumb: screw *3Z to;preventflpossibleqnovement of Wheel 27 duringrrepeatedoperatlons,

1' Tl enftheqdesired.. amountof liquid"isiixi -icheated on the dial 36, the:operatonthrows operating hand: lever '11 into the position shown in 'Fig..-10. This; rotates pinion-65m. which in turn moves slide valve 6 lrfirst- -into the closed. position- (Fig.- 9) and-.then-into w-L position wherein chamber '63 of slide-Valvefil? forms a-by-pass between-port 58 and port 59v! 1 The liquid; then flows from inlet and r'ou-tleti duct 4,-throug-h chambe'r'i63 intoldisw charge pipe 12-.;- lVhenvthe liquid flows of inlet and; outlet ductd the liquid in; tank;- 1 is siphoned upward through duct 8 oven thez top. otstationary siphon pipe 10 thence downward into duct 4-, througl-i-the bypass; formed by chamber '68 in valve mechanism-3 and intodischarge pipe;1'2.- When the waterx level in tank 1 reaches-ithe bottom of: adjust:

the flow pt liquid stops;

-1308" g aee Deflector plate 9 serves to prevent liquid in the adjustable siphon pipe 7 which may be above the top of the stationary siphon pipe 5, from falling bygravity. into stationarysiphon pipe 5 upon the breaking of the si-" phon action, thus impairing the accuracy of the measuring apparatus. This feature is particularly desirable when only a small quantity of liquid is desired and the adjust-- able siphon pipe is in a raised position as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 5. In this position there is an appreciable quantity of' liquid in the adjustable siphon pipe above the top of the stationary pipe. hen the si-- phon action ceases this water falls bygravity onto the deflector plate 9 and thence back into the tank, thus preserving the accuracy of the apparatus. I

The operator, by observing the gauge glass 40 on theside of the tank, or in mostcases, by observing when the flow completely ceases in the discharge pipe, then opens the inletvalve, which simultaneously closes thedis charge from the tank, permitting the tank to completely refill with water.

Although the above measuring apparatus has been described in connection with its ap plication to the relatively rigorous operations involved in construction engineering, it is not intended to be restricted to such use. It is readily apparent that this invention may be utilized in other operations for dispensing liquid in accurate amounts wherein the ap-- para-tus is not exposed to the eXt-remewear and tear and varied conditions above referred to. Nor is it intended to restrict the inven-- tion to the exact constructed as described.-- Ordinary valves of the known commercial" type may be substituted in lieu of the pre-' ferred forms above shown, equivalent types of 'oint may be substituted for those descri ed and wherever a particular material is indicated it is intended to be merely descriptive and not restrictive.

I claim:

1. In a measuring device the combination of a vessel, means for filling the vessel with liquid, an outlet port, a movable element for controlling the amount of discharge of liquid, from the vessel, and means for moving said element to determinate levels in the vessel, said means comprising a lever arm secured at one end to said movable element, a rock shaft engaging the other end of said leverarm, a ball end shaft projecting from said rock shaft and a regulating hand wheel outside of the tank having an eccentric cam groove on one face thereof adapted to engage said ball and shaft.

2. In a measuring device the combination of a vessel, means for filling the vessel with liquid, a siphon consisting of a stationary element and an adjustable element in'telescopic relation therewith, means for discharging liquid from the vessel through the minate llevels in the vessel, saidmeans :com-

pr-isinga lever-arm secured at one end to said movable element -an'd 'secured at I; the other end -toan operating: member outside oflthe tank. V

In "a measuring device the combination of a vessel, means for filling the vessel with "liquid, asiphon consisting .of a stationary element an'd an 1 adjustable element in'-telescopic relation-therewith;means'for'dischargi-ng-l i quid 'from" the vessel through th-esiphon, and means for. raising an d lowering sa-id adjustable element to varied "but determinate le'v'els in the vesjsel, said means comprising -a-' lever arm secured at' one end to s'aid movayjectingffrom said roekshaft, and --a'-regulat- 3 ing handwhe'el outside of the tank having "an eccentr c cam groove 'on -one face -thereof 1 "ble element', a' roc k shaft engaging'the' other r I *end of said lever arm,=a ball en'dshaft pro- 4. In' a measuring device' 'the combination ofa "vessel, me-ans for filling' thevessel with v aida sipih'on through -which the liquidis' 'disch-argedf from -the= vessel, saidsiphon con i fsistingof a stationary-siphon pipeand a movable siphonfpipeya lever arm secured at-"One V i-ng 1 said rock shaft 'to raise i "and lower the manate levels in the' vessel.

' 5. In a3 measuring devi'ce the combination of a vessel,-me'ansfor filling the-vessel with =-l1 ('1Tu1d, an--: outlet -port, a movable =element mtivajble :si-ehon ipe to varied but deterthrough *wliich liq-uidis directed tothe-outlet zpor t, and; means for movin'g s aid element toeletemn inate levels in the vessel-to 'control the amount of discharge from the vessel through said element,- sa1dmeans 1 comprising alever e'Xtend ing thromgh a gland adjacent a'iaw'a ll of the vesselg one end at the lever b'eing 'pivotal'ly attached to them'ovable -element,-' the other add ct-theieVerbeing-dn operative engagement with a regulating hand Wheel positioned outside the vessel.

- 6. In ameasuring device the combinationof a vessel, means for filling the vessel with, liquid, an outlet port, a movable element for controlling the amount of discharge of liquid from the vessel, and means for moving said element to determinate levels in the vessel,

adapted to shaft engaging the oppositeen'dof said-lever =arm;-'-and 'means outsideiof'the tank for rotat 7. In a measuring device the 'combinatiozi of a vessel, means for filling the vessel with liquid, an outlet port, a movable element through which liquid is directed to the outlet port, and means for moving said element to determinate levels in the vessel for controlling the amount of discharge of liquid from the vessel through said element, said means comprising a lever arm pivotally attached at one end to said movable element, a rock shaft engaging the other end of the lever arm,

said rock shaft being journaled in and extending through suitable water tight bearing means located on the side of the tank, and an operating lever projecting from the portion of the rock shaft outside the vessel.

8. In a measuring device the combinationof a vessel, means for filling the vessel with liquid, an outlet port, a movable element for controlling the amount of discharge of liquid from the vessel, alever arm pivotally secured at one end to the movable element, a rock shaft engaging the other end of the lever arm,

, vsaid rock shaft extending outside of the vessel and being journaled in a water-tight casing adjacenta Wall of the vessel, a ball-end lever projecting from the external portion of the rock shaft and a regulating hand wheel positioned outside the tank and adjacent a I side thereof, said hand wheel having an e01 centric cam groove on one face thereof adapted to engage said ball-end lever.

9. In a measuring device the combination of a vessel, means for filling the vessel with liquid, an outlet port, a movable element for controlling the amount of discharge of liquid from the vessel andthrough which element the liquid is directed to the outlet port, a

lever arm, one end of which is pivotally at-' tached to the movable element and the other ,5. end of which extends through an opening in the side of the tank, operating means engaging the other end of the lever arm and po sitioned outside the vessel, and a water tight casing secured to the outside of the vessel enclosing the outside of the opening and a portion of the operating means. a

- I ALFREllD. MOSBY. 

